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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Simon BamforthORCiD
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The tight junction is the most apical intercellular junction of epithelial cells and forms a diffusion barrier between individual cells. Occludin is an integral membrane protein specifically associated with the tight junction which may contribute to the function or regulation of this intercellular seal. In order to elucidate the role of occludin at the tight junction, a full length and an N-terminally truncated murine occludin construct, both FLAG-tagged at the N terminus, were stably introduced into the murine epithelial cell line CSG 120/7. Both constructs were correctly targeted to the tight junction, as defined by colocalization with another tight junction protein, ZO-1. The construct lacking the N terminus and extracellular domains of occludin was found to exert a dramatic effect on tight junction integrity. Cell monolayers failed to develop an efficient permeability barrier, as demonstrated by low transcellular electrical resistance values and an increased paracellular flux to small molecular mass tracers. Furthermore, gaps were found to have been induced in the P-face associated tight junction strands, as visualized by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. These findings demonstrate an important role for the N-terminal half of occludin in tight junction assembly and maintaining the barrier function of the tight junction.
Author(s): Bamforth SD; Kniesel U; Wolburg H; Engelhardt B; Risau W
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Cell Science
Year: 1999
Volume: 112
Issue: 12
Pages: 1879-1888
Print publication date: 01/06/1999
ISSN (print): 0021-9533
ISSN (electronic): 1477-9137
Publisher: The Company of Biologists Limited
URL: http://jcs.biologists.org/content/112/12/1879.full.pdf+html
Notes: 0021-9533 (Print) Journal Article
